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Cassell in green would light up Celtics

Mar 5, 2008 7:00 AM

Bettin’ on B’ball by Andy Iskoe

LAST WK

NBA

PCT

2-1

27-23

54.0

The NBA’s has barely a month and a half remaining until the
playoffs begin in late April.

The trading deadline has passed and contending teams have pretty
much settled on the rosters that will determine their fates this spring. As we
go to press there is one significant move about to be made that could tilt the
balance of power in the East further towards the talent of Boston versus the
experience of Detroit.

Sam Cassell cleared waivers from the Los Angeles Clippers and is
expected to sign with the Celtics anyday for the stretch run. His experience and
leadership will further help Boston in its quest to win the NBA title. With
Cassell, the Celts would boast a Fearsome Foursome with Ray Allen, Paul Pierce
and Kevin Garnett.

Already possessing the league’s best record, this signing
should lock up the top overall seed for the Celtics, unless unanticipated
chemistry or other problems pop up in retooling a roster that has performed so
well through nearly 60 games.

Exhibit A would be the Phoenix Suns. They have struggled since
acquiring Shaquille O’Neal a few weeks ago in their trade with Miami. Things
have not gone smoothly since the Big Cactus took the court for the Suns. Once
leading the Western Conference, the Suns have fallen to the sixth seed.

It may be hard to believe, but there is a possibility that
Phoenix could miss the playoffs entirely. The West remains extremely contentious
with just three games separating top-seeded San Antonio from the No. 7-seed
Dallas. Eighth-seeded Golden State is just two games behind the Mavericks with
Denver just 1½ games further back.

Phoenix starts this week 2½ games behind the Lakers in the
Pacific Division and just 2½ ahead of the eighth seeded Warriors. It does not
take a degree in mathematics to see that the Suns are also just four games in
front of the Nuggets. As it is, the Suns are just 5-5 over their last 10 games
after going 34-15 over their first 49 games.

The imbalance of power between the conferences remains most
evident in that 10 of the West’s 15 teams are playing better than .500
basketball, compared to just 5 of 15 in the East.

Boston and Detroit remain by far the class of the East and
appear destined to meet in the conference finals. The Pistons have a shot at
catching the Celtics, trailing by 3½ games with a shade more than 20 remaining
for each. Third-seeded Orlando is six games behind Detroit and realistically
will retain that third seed when the playoffs arrive.

The hottest team in the league remains Houston. Despite
losing Yao Ming for the balance of the season to injury, the Rockets extended
their winning streak to 15 in a row with Sunday’s victory over Denver. The
Rockets have moved up the Western ladder to the fifth seed, just 2½ games from
the top.

The bunching of teams in the West means that it will be quite
some time before any team clinches a playoff berth. That means we should be
treated to some outstanding basketball deeper into the season as teams cannot
afford to take games off prior to the playoffs. Also, six Western teams have
winning records on the road.

The hottest pointspread teams over the past few weeks have been
Houston (9-1), Washington (8-2), the Lakers (7-3) and Philadelphia (7-3). The
coldest are Golden State (2-8), Memphis (2-8), Boston (3-7), Denver (3-7) and
Miami (3-7).

Here’s a look at three games to be played this weekend.

Jazz at Suns (Fri): The home team has won each of their
two previous meetings this season. Both games have been very low scoring
relative to the posted totals with the games going under by 24½
and 23 points. Neither team is known for playing strong defense and both teams
have multiple weapons on offense.

Those earlier results may cause the Total line to be shaded a
bit lower than in those two meetings. Unlike those earlier meetings when one of
the teams was playing for a second straight night, both teams are rested. They
should be able to trade points in an up-tempo game. OVER.

Hornets at Rockets (Sat): New Orleans has had an
outstanding season to date and currently hold the No. 3 seed in the West.
Houston could be riding a 17-game win streak at tipoff if getting by Indiana and
Dallas earlier in the week. The road team has won both meetings, including a
victory by the Rockets in the Big Easy just two weeks ago.

Both games went under by double digits. New
Orleans might get a few added points after hosting New Jersey on Friday night,
while Houston’s game at Dallas was Thursday. At some point Houston will miss
Yao and New Orleans has played well enough all season to take advantage. HORNETS.

Kings at Lakers (Sun): Sacramento has played better
basketball recently, but is too far back in the tough West to have a shot at
making the playoffs. The Lakers are playing for the top overall seed, beginning
the week percentage points behind San Antonio.

The Lakers have benefited greatly from the acquisition of Pau
Gasol, while Kobe Bryant continues to show why he remains the best player in the
NBA. Bryant, despite an injured thumb, continues to post impressive numbers. The
teams met for the first time this past Tuesday in Sacramento. The Lakers took
3-of-4 from the Kings last season when LA was not as strong. LAKERS.